Adoption of Apple Waste Processing in the Agricultural Sector: The Potential Utilization of Tropical Bioresources for Sustainable Farming

Abstract

Apple orchards generate a large amount of waste, such as flowers, pruned branches, fruit thinning, and tree trunks during the growth of apple trees, as well as the collection of apple harvests. Recycling this biomass waste has become an issue for apple farmers. In the current situation, the woody components and apple waste are considered as waste rather than resources. Therefore, this research focuses on the acceptance of apple farmers toward processing apple farming waste into biocompost, fertilizers, and plant-based pesticides. Two hundred respondents participated, coming from two major apple production areas: Bumiaji Subdistrict in Batu City and Nongkojajar Subdistrict in Pasuruan Regency. The initial hypothesis suggests that social norms and the acceptance of ease of use influence apple farmers to adopt this waste processing method.